Work Experience
Work experience is the short term placement of secondary school students with “host” employers, to provide insights into the industry and the work place in which they are located. Students are placed with employers primarily to observe and learn – not to undertake activities which require extensive training or experience.
More detailed information and additional forms can found in the Work Experience Manual, see: Work Experience Manual, Legislation and Forms
Health and Safety Guidelines for Work Experience Students
The following guidelines have been developed to assist teachers in placing students in safe work experience arrangements, and update the previous document Guidelines for Work Experience Pupils Under 15 Years of Age in the Declared High Risk Industries.
Given the additional requirements for work experience students aged 14 (e.g. Declared High Risk Industries and Criminal Records Checks), separate guidelines for students aged 14, and students aged 15+ have been developed.
Information on Declared High Risk Industries, Criminal Records Checks and the implications of the Child Employment Act 2003 are contained in the following document, which covers all the requirements for students aged 14 undertaking work experience:
Information on restricted industries and activities for ALL work experience students is contained in the document for students aged 15+
Students Under 15 Years
Criminal Record Checks are required for Employers & Supervisors of Students under 15.
The Victoria Police form for consent to check criminal records has changed. The Victoria Police form is needed only when applying to Industrial Relations Victoria for a Child Employment Permit.
See: Victoria Police - Police Records Checks (http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274).
There is no change for Criminal Record Checks handled through DEECD; continue to use the DEECD form, see: Consent to Check and Release National Police Record form (PDF - 116Kb)
For more information, also see:
- Ministerial Order 56 - Work Experience Arrangements (Word - 120Kb)
- Circular 158/2008 New Ministerial Orders and Arrangement Forms for Work Experience and Structured Workplace Learning (Word - 43Kb)
- Frequently Asked Questions on Criminal Record Checks (Word - 38Kb)
- School Guidelines to Criminal Record Checks (Word - 74Kb) - includes letter to Victoria Police
- Risk Assessment Form (Word - 71Kb) - includes a completed sample form.
More information
- Contact your Regional Later Years Consultants with your questions about Work Experience Arrangements or Structured Workplace Learning Arrangements, see: Contacts